BALTIMORE, MD – Johnson Olatunji Ogunyemi, a 50-year-old Nigerian national from Owings Mills, Maryland, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 30 months for a brazen scheme involving forged passports, visa fraud, and the laundering of over $307,300. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake handed down the sentence today, also ordering Ogunyemi to forfeit $105,561.
The case, announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Edwin Guard of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), unravels a sophisticated operation where Ogunyemi exploited the U.S. immigration system and financial institutions for illicit gain. Ogunyemi initially arrived in the United States legally in January 2015, overstaying his authorized stay by July 30, 2015. But staying wasn’t enough; he needed a whole new identity – or several.
The fraud first came to light on August 16, 2017, when Ogunyemi was arrested by the New Carrollton Police Department at a local bank. He attempted to use a fraudulent Nigerian passport and visa under the name of “Benjamin Smith” to conduct a financial transaction. Cops didn’t just find one fake ID, though. A search revealed a collection of fabricated identities: passports and visas in the names of Benjamin Johnson and John Wale, along with driver’s licenses for Benjamin Smith and David Durston. All bore Ogunyemi’s photo.
The DSS swooped in on November 10, 2017, executing an arrest warrant at Ogunyemi’s Owings Mills residence. Ogunyemi wasn’t sticking around for a chat, though. He attempted to flee through a third-floor balcony before being apprehended. A search of his vehicle uncovered yet another Nigerian passport and driver’s license, this time in the name of Ola Badru, plus mail addressed to his various aliases. Forensic analysis confirmed every single identity document was a counterfeit. Ogunyemi admitted to assuming at least five different identities while in the U.S., all backed by forged documents.
But the scheme wasn’t just about creating fake IDs. Ogunyemi opened bank accounts under his assumed names, using the fraudulent documents to deposit hundreds of thousands of dollars. These funds, he admitted, were the proceeds of illegal activity – scams targeting vulnerable people, and the hacking of businesses to facilitate fraudulent checks. He then used those same accounts, under his fabricated identities, to move the money around, attempting to hide its criminal origins. Investigators traced at least $307,300 laundered through this network.
“This sentence demonstrates the consequences of identity theft and financial fraud,” stated U.S. Attorney Hur. He commended the DSS for their diligent investigation and thanked the New Carrollton Police Department for their initial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joan C. Mathias and Tamera L. Fine prosecuted the case, ensuring Ogunyemi will now have plenty of time to reflect on his criminal choices behind bars. # # #
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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